Why are people happy?

One in the afternoon on a dry Monday, a striped green pair of shorts against a black swivel chair, and an almost decrepit PC monitor blankly staring at a chocolate-stained white shirt. 

Cheers! 

Someone left M&M's in our refrigerator, hence the chocolate stains. I don't normally eat this way.

How are you? How's life treating you? How are you responding to life? Here's a smile to cheer you up : )

My 1st week at school was unexpectedly wonderful. I pointed out "unexpectedly" because I can still clearly remember how my 1st week last semester went -- I was a sad/busy bee. But this sem, my 1st week was actually fun. 

I am still swathing myself with a  much needed heap of enthusiasm, optimism, and assiduity (which I will be needing to make this sem a happy one).

This week is probably my final happy week I will truly enjoy:

Ethnographic Videography - This class jump-starts my week.I am really looking forward to learning a lot from this class. The final project seems really challenging -- Producing an Ethnographic Video Project. But the ideas are already swimming around my convoluted clouds of thinking space. It's taught by one of my favorite professors (He's so intelligent. He's so intelligent. He's so intelligent. There.). Unlike in some classes, I'm actually looking forward to studying the reading assignments. hihi.

Introduction to Creative Writing - Hello there, CW, my first love. Hoho. I love you. The course will be focusing on three areas: Fiction, Poetry, and Comic Book Writing. For the first part of the class, we'll be focusing on Comic Book Writing -- this is something new for me. I haven't tried this before. This will be exciting! Aaaah (to add more effect to my excitement, I needed the aaaah in there). And of course, I'm looking forward to writing fiction again! Yey. I also want to read other people's work. I hope that the class workshops wouldn't break my writing spirit. *nervous laugh starts here*

Media and Society - So far, so good. That is all. The topics are very interesting. At least on paper, they seem interesting.

Japanese 11 - The class ends at 7 PM. (5:30-7:00pm). It's my first time to have a class that ends this late. This class wouldn't even be credited because we're only required to take two foreign language electives. This is my 3rd foreign lang. elec. But I will still enjoy this class because I really want to learn more. And Ate Belle from OVCAA-OEC (about the Japan scholarship I applied for) suggested that I take this class just in case February gives birth to good news. hihi. I really hope that I make it! Please oh please oh please! 

Broadcasting and Development - This class speaks to me. hoho. It really does. I think that I will really learn a lot from this class. What are the real notions of development anyway? I'm expecting another recondite batch of reading assignments. And yet, I'm actually feeling a bit excited. But the trepidation is still there, it's always there. Some of my closest friends and orgmates are also in my class : )

I've been having "pensive realizations" lately. I have already expressed my negative opinions/feelings about the mainstream media through heated conversations with friends. And lately, I've been considering this "other career path." What is this "other career path"? I can't really dwell on it deeper here, I'll talk about it next time. I was primarily inspired by one of my favorite professors. You don't have to be in the mainstream media to give your contributions to society.

LGBT Psychology- This is an accidental class (for lack of a better term). My original plan for the sem was to take a Sociology class, but because of schedule conflicts, I decided to take a Psychology elective. So I was reading the list of available Psychology courses and I saw this one. And I decided to take it for the following reasons: a. It's something I haven't thoroughly studied before, b. It is an interesting topic and I could really apply this to the media, c. The media's manner of presentation of LGBT issues (if any) are still quite problematic. In depth explorations of these issues are still not visible. The media still employs stereotypes and boxed-in perspectives. And I want to change that (or at least, try), d. This is something new for me, I haven't been really exposed to this kind of academic exploration, e. Most people, myself included, are still left unaware of some LGBT-related issues. And I'd like to help in informing people about them.

The professor seemed really smart (and funny!). This will be an interesting class.

I also read a very interesting book (it's one of the assigned readings, but I decided to download an e-book and do some advanced reading because it seems really interesting). "Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women's Love and Desire." (Lisa Diamond, 2008) Her research is very interesting. Though I still have many queries about this perspective.

TV News Production (Broadcast Journalism 120) - And this is the highlight of my semester. The class I fear the most, the class I'm most nervous about, but also the class I'm greatly looking forward to. The professor is GREAT! I like her already. This will be a very challenging class, and I hope I can still make it despite my 7pm class and my 21-units worth of subjects.

During class introduction, I managed to share with everyone my "story." I never told anyone about this except for one very close college friend. I told them about my "internal struggle" with my course/life plans -- that I'm not yet really sure if this is the right track for me. But this sem, I hope that I can finally answer my questions. My first and real passion is writing. Not news writing, but creative writing. More on fiction, or features/essays/poetry/stories. That kind of writing. But at the same time, I also want to make documentaries and in depth explorations of relevant issues (especially those which are labeled taboo). The professor's words really inspired me. I will do my best in this class (and all of my classes this sem)! This is the zenith of all zeniths. Last three semesters in college. Wow. But please, I'm still expecting good results for my Japan Application! I am willing to be delayed for one whole year if it would mean that I can be an exchange student in Ritsumeikan! Please! hihi. (Ok, that "hihi" at the end of that long sentence seemed eerie.)

And then, there's my thoughts about the mainstream media. And this shall extend to a rambunctious debate. But I shall end it here. Hoho.

S O C I A L   L I F E

Yes, apparently, I do have a social life. Yey!

I love my organization. I really like the people, the interests/ideas we share, the quips and witty comebacks. I love them all. We went jogging last Friday night. It was my first time to have an evening jog on campus. It was exhilarating. The cool wind, the adrenaline rush, the energy, jogging with friends. It was great.

The next day, my body swam in ineffable languor. I was in pain. Hoho. I need to exercise more. 

Then last Saturday, we had our organization's sem-starter and org. dinner. IT WAS FUN. Enough said. : ) 

Yes, that is a small soccer ball. And a bunch of happy people.

Sunken Garden

We held hands under the sun. Haha.

Dinner!

I also spent time with my close friends from BC. I really missed one of my closest friends, we practically didn't see each other last sem. We caught up with our stories. I also had a very interesting conversation with her about our life/career plans. Oh, life. Then I also talked with my other close friend who is experiencing something I haven't yet - and that is, love. hoho. I really hope that he'll be fine. But as for me, this concept shall remain as a flimsy phantasm no person alive today will deal with as of this time. A student shall study and have academic explorations, that is all. 

G E E K Y   M A T T E R S

Here are the books I read/re-read last sembreak:

- The Virgin Suicides (Jeffrey Eugenides, 1993)

- Holidays on Ice (David Sedaris, 1997)

- Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov, 1955)

- Asleep (Banana Yoshimoto, 1989)

- Home School (Charles Webb, 2007)

And now, I'm reading "Bee Season" (Myla Goldberg, 2000). I remember watching the film adaptation a few years ago. I didn't know that it was based on a novel. I get this incredible euphoria whenever I find a good book in BOOKSALE. Because we know how difficult it is to look for a book amidst the mountains of books in a small store that is BOOKSALE. I hope I can find a copy of Tom Peralta's "Election."

As for the movie-buff alter ego, I've watched some interesting films last sembreak:

- My Summer of Love (could this be a foreshadowing of my Psych class? haha)

- Three Colors Trilogy (Red, White, Blue)

- Before Sunset and Before Sunrise (a very interesting way of telling a story)

- The Secret (huh, I didn't finish watching it.)

- And yes, I've watched "The Social Network"

- and others (films in my laptop). I'll try to make movie reviews in my tumblr account next time.

I also finally finished watching all episodes of the anime "Kimi ni Todoke." Sadly, I wasn't able to watch the remaining episodes of K-On Season 2. I'll wait for the dvd.

 I finally have my own copy of Corinne Bailey Rae's new album! I still like the songs from her 1st album better. But I'm happy that she's back! : )

I also received my final paper in BC 181 (Criticism of Broadcast Text). I am happy with it. I still need to work on the technical aspect of writing research papers. But I'm really surprised with my professor's comments. I actually enjoyed writing this paper more than the other one (180 hoho). This paper had more freedom in its exploration and assertions.

***

Limerence. I recently read about the concept of limerence (last sembreak). And I find it to be quite "accurate?" Hihihi. Perhaps I have experienced a very light/partly-baffled version of limerence last sem. But the light has turned leaden, I am free. Hoho. Please look it up, it's a very interesting concept.

*** 

I composed two new organ pieces last sembreak (I now have 11 compositions). And I made my 1st guitar improvisation as well. I miss playing the guitar. Somebody teach me. Again. I still have those phantasms wherein I'm a guitarist. Oh yes. Lezgo daydreaming. 

***

I watched a documentary last night about an unresolved politics-driven massacre. How long shall we wait for justice to finally happen? Sometimes, I really cannot understand why such things happen and why we let these things continue. Truculent bruisers continue to freely gambol on earth, free from worries of consequence. There's a real problem here. A problem that goes beyond politics, pride, and morality.

***

Ok. It feels great to write. I shall go now and read. Bye! : )

Why are people happy? : )

Is happiness a result of a particular setting/context/activity?
Is happiness born from the total absence of reasons to be unhappy?

What/Who/___ makes you happy?

Cheers!